Traveling web aligning apparatus

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for aligning one longitudinal side edge of a thickened portion of a traveling web having both thickened and thinned portions along a substantially constant line of travel. The apparatus comprises a sensing head means for sensing a deviation in the line of travel of one longitudinal side edge of the thickened portion and a switch means for constantly actuating guide means responsive thereto for constantly laterally shifting the traveling web to compensate for the deviations in the line of travel of the one longitudinal side edge of the thickened portion from the desired substantially constant line of travel.

United States Patent Charles E. Brocklehurst Augusta, Ga.

[21] Appl, No. 889,089

[22] Filed Dec. 30, 1969 [45] Patented Oct. 5, 1971 [73] Assignee RiegelTextile Corporation Ware Shoals, S.C.

[72] Inventor [54] TRAVELING WEB ALIGNING APPARATUS PrimaryExaminerAllen N. Knowles Att0rneyParrott, Bell, Seltzer, Park & GibsonABSTRACT: An apparatus for aligning one longitudinal side edge of athickened portion of a traveling web having both thickened and thinnedportions along a substantially constant line of travel. The apparatuscomprises a sensing head means 12 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl 226/17, 112/63, 112/130, 112/203, 83/367 [51] Int. Cl B65h25/26 [50] Field otSearch 226/23, 17,18,19,45;112/124,129,130;83/367;200/61.13; 242/57.1

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,484,473 10/1949 Staege226/23 X 2,803,205 8/1957 Solow 112/130 X PATENTEU on Si n 3,610,493

INVEr-JTOR. CHARLES E. BROCKLEHURST oi ME M ATTORNEYS TRAVELING WEBALIGNING APPARATUS This invention relates to an apparatus for aligningone longitudinal side edge of a thickened portion of a traveling webhaving both thickened and thinned portions along a substantiallyconstant line of travel.

ln the manufacture of various products, an elongate web having boththickened and thinned portions is often formed as an intermediateproduct on which it is necessary to carry out some further operations onwhich longitudinal side edge of the thickened portion such as severingor trimming away the thinned portion and thereafter stitching or bindingthe cut edge or any part thereof.

For instance, in the weaving of fabric or web on a shuttleless loom, anunwoven fringe or thinned portion is formed by the ends of the fillingyarns left along at least one longitudinal side edge of the woven orthickened portion. In order to have a commercially acceptable product itis usually necessary that the thinned portion or fringe be severed ortrimmed from the thickened portion. In addition, it is usually desirablethat the remaining cut edge be bound such as by stitching, to preventunraveling of the woven web during subsequent handling.

While many shuttleless looms include various cutting mechanismsoperatively associated therewith for severing the unwoven fringe orthinned portion from the woven or thickened portion during weaving, itis often preferred that the trimming and binding be carried outsubstantially simultaneously to minimize the time and handling of thewoven web and thus, minimize the likelihood of unraveling thereof.

Heretofore, it has been very difficult to sever or trim the thinnedportion adjacent the one longitudinal side edge'of the thickened portionand properly bind the remaining cut edge throughout the length thereofdue to the inability to advance the one longitudinal side edge of thethickened portion along a substantially constant line of travel in apredetermined relation to conventional severing and binding mechanisms.This inability has been primarily due to problems encountered inadvancing the woven web over a uniform path of travel and variations inthe width of the web.

It is an object of this invention to take advantage of the difference inthickness of the various portions of a traveling web having a thickenedand thinned portion and provide an apparatus for aligning onelongitudinal side edge of the thickened portion along a substantiallyconstant line of travel.

By this invention the above object is accomplished by providing asensing head means disposed adjacent the one longitudinal side edge ofthe thickened portion of the traveling web for sensing a deviation inthe line of travel of the one longitudinal side edge in a firstdirection laterally of and in the plane'of the traveling web from theconstant line of travel. Switch means is operatively associated with thesensing head means and has an open position and closed position and isin one of the positions when the sensing head means is sensing adeviation of the one longitudinal side edge in the first direction fromthe constant line of travel and being in the other position at all othertimes. Guide means are responsive to the switch means when in either ofthe positions for constantly laterally shifting the traveling web tocompensate for deviations of the one longitudinal side edge of thethickened portion in either direction from the substantially constantline of travel.

Preferably, the sensing head means is adapted to be engaged by the onelongitudinal side edge of the thickened portion and be moved under theinfluence thereof upon deviation of the one longitudinal side edge ofthe thickened portion in the first direction from the constant line forchanging the position of the switch means. The switch means ispreferably of the normally open type and is disposed outwardly of thesensing head means from the plane of the traveling web and includes anactuating plunger extending therefrom toward the sensing head means inthe path of movement of the sensing head means away from the plane ofthe traveling web and for actuation by the sending head means uponsensing a deviation of the one longitudinal side edge of the thickenedportion in the first direction from the constant line of travel.

The guide means preferably includes a pair of cooperating guide niprolls through which the web is advanced and reciprocating meansoperatively associated therewith and responsive to the switch means forlaterally shifting the nip rolls parallel to the plane of the travellingweb to maintain the one longitudinal side edge of the thickened portionadvancing along the substantially constant line of travel.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objectswill appear as the description proceeds, when taken in connection withthe accompanying drawings, in which FIG. 1 is a perspective, schematicview of an apparatus constructed in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective, schematic view with portions brokenaway looking in the direction of arrow 2 in FIG. 1 and including meansschematically illustrated for aligning the one longitudinal side edge ofthe thickened portion of the advancing web; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line33 of FIG. 2.

[t is to be understood that while this invention will be hereinafterdescribed specifically in terms of a fabric or web woven on ashuttleless loom and having a woven or thickened portion and a fringe orthinned portion extending along one longitudinal side edge of the wovenportion, that the apparatus of this invention and the operation thereofis equally applicable to any type of web irrespective of whether the webhas thickened and thinner portions.

- Referring more specifically to the drawings wherein like referencecharacters indicate like parts, there is shown in FIG. 1 an apparatusconstructed in accordance with the present invention and generallyindicated at 10.

As illustrated, an elongate web 12 having a woven or thickened portion13 and a transversely extending fringe or thinned portion 14 disposedalong one longitudinal side edge of the thickened portion 13 is drawnfrom a supply roll l5 that is journaled at opposite ends for rotation invertical support members 16, only one of which is shown, and which areadapted to support the supply roll 15 parallel with a horizontal surfacesuch as that of the floor ofa building. From the supply roll 15 theelongate web 12 is led along a substantially predetermined longitudinalpath of travel under idler roll 17 upwardly over idler roll 18 anddownwardly between a pair of cooperating guide nip rolls 20 and 21. Fromthe guide nip rolls 20 and 21 the elongate web 12 passes around anotheridler roll 23 and then between a pair of cooperating driven nip feedrolls 24 and 25 to a driven takeup roll 26.

Idler rolls 17, 18 and 23 are journaled at opposite ends for rotationand are supported parallel with supply roll 15 between spaced-apartvertical support members 30. Similarly, the pair of guide nip rolls 20and 21 are journaled at opposite ends for rotation and are supportedparallel with supply roll 15 between spaced-apart vertical supportmembers 30. The guide nip rolls 20 and 21 are also mounted for movementparallel to the plane of the traveling web 12 by suitable means forlaterally shifting the traveling web 12 and will be hereinafter movefully described.

The pair of cooperating nip feed rolls 24 and 25 are journaled atopposite ends for rotation and are supported parallel with supply roll15 between spaced-apart vertical support members 31. The lower feed roll25 has a drive mechanism, generally indicated at 35, drivingly connectedthereto for driving rotation thereof. The driving mechanism 35 comprisesa motor 36 having an output drive shaft 37 with a pulley 38 mountedthereon. An endless drivebclt 39 is disposed around pulley 38 and alsopasses around a pulley 40 which is mounted on extension shaft 41 oflower feed roll 25 for driving rotation thereof. Thus, nip feed rolls 24and 25 cooperate to draw the elongate web 12 from supply roll 15 andadvance it along substantially predetermined longitudinal path of travelthrough the apparatus 10.

The take up roll 26 is journaled at opposite ends for rotation and issupported parallel to supply roll 15 between spacedapart support members42. Takeup roll 26' is driven in synchronism with feed rolls 24 and 25to takeup the traveling web 12 by the same motor 36 that drives feedroll 25. A pulley 43 mounted on drive shaft 37 has a drivebelt 44disposed therearound and drivingly connected to a pulley 45 which ismounted on takeup roll 26. Thus, the web 12 is advanced from supply rollalong a substantially predetermined longitudinal path of travel totakeup roll 26.

It will readily be apparent that the apparatus as heretofore describedwhile advancing the elongate web 12 along a substantially predeterminedlongitudinal path of travel does not insure that the longitudinal sideedge of the thickened portion 13 having the thinned portion 14 extendinglongitudinally therealong is traveling along a substantially constantline of travel since the web 12 may move laterally of and in the planeof traveling web to deviate the longitudinal side edge from the constantline of travel or variations in the width of the elongate web 12 maydeviate the longitudinal side edge from the constant line of travel.

Thus, in accordance with the present invention, the present apparatus 10includes sensing head means, generally indicated at 50 mounted betweenthe pair of cooperating guide nip rolls and 21 and idler roll 23adjacent the path of travel of the one longitudinal side edge of thethickened portion 13 of the traveling web 12 and is supported from oneof the vertical support members 30 by any suitable means such as supportbracket 51. The sensing head means 50 is constructed and mounted so asto sense a deviation of the one longitudinal side edge of the thickenedportion 13 of the traveling web 12 in a first direction, which asillustrated in the drawings may be to the left laterally of and in theplane of the raveling web 12, from a constant line of travel.

More particularly, the sensing head means 50 comprises an elongateplanar shoe plate 52 disposed on one side of the traveling web 12adjacent the one longitudinal side edge of the thickened portion 13which is carried by support bracket 51 and extending longitudinally ofthe traveling web 12 for engaging and riding on an elongate portion ofthe traveling web 12. The shoe plate 52 includes a projection or edgefeeler 53 extending longitudinally thereof adjacent one side of the shoeplate 52 with the inner edge 54 thereof disposed in alignment with thedesired constant line of travel of the longitudinal side edge of thethickened portion 13 and which extends inwardly from planar shoe plate52 toward the traveling web 12 a distance at least beyond the thickenedportion 13, but no further than the thinned portion 14, as bestillustrated in FIG. 3. The sensing head means 50 further include a pairof spacedapart supporting plates 54 and 55 carried by shoe plate 52 andwhich extend away from the plane of the advancing web 12 substantiallyperpendicular thereto and between which a pin 56 extends.

The sensing head means 50 is supported by an arm 57 which extendsoutwardly from support bracket 51 parallel to the plane of the travelingweb 12 in spaced relation therefrom and includes a sleeve 58 rotatablymounted on the end of arm 57 remote from bracket 51. A coil spring 59 isconcentrically mounted on arm 57 between bracket 51 and sleeve 58 forbiasing sleeve 58 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 2.Sleeve 58 is connected by a connecting link 60 to a sleeve 61 which isconcentrically disposed on pin 56 for rotation thereon. Thus, thesensing head means 50 is biased toward the plane of the traveling web 12for maintaining the planar show plate 52 in engagement with an ridingupon the traveling web 12.

Upon deviation of the one longitudinal side edge of the thickenedportion 13 of the traveling web 12 in the first direction, that is tothe left as viewed in the various figures, from the desired constantline of travel, the thickened portion 13 will engage the projection oredge feeler 53. The sensing head means 50 will be moved perpendicularlyaway from the plane of the traveling web 12 under the influence of thethickened portion 13 through the pivoting connections just described.

As best illustrated in H6. 3, link 60 has an elongate rod such as a bolt65 adjustably mounted therethrough by nuts 66 which extendssubstantially perpendicular to the plane of the traveling web 12 so thatupon deviation of the one longitudinal side edge of the thickenedportion 13 of' the traveling web 12 in the first direction, the free endof bolt 65 will likewise be moved perpendicularly away from the plane ofthe traveling web 12. It will be apparent from the foregoing descriptionthat thin sections that this sections within the thickened portion 13 ofthe web 12 will not cause the sensing head means 50 to move since theshoe plate 52 rides on an elongate portion of the thickened portion 13to bridge these sections as illustrated in FIG. 2. Similarly, due to theelongate nature of the projection or edge feeler 53 which engages anelongate portion of the one longitudinal side edge of the thickenedportion 13 upon deviation thereof from the constant line, unevenness inthe one longitudinal side edge will have no affect upon moving thesensing head 50.

To prevent deflection of the advancing web 12 by the sensing head means50, a web supporting member 70 including a substantially planarsupporting surface 71 is disposed on the opposite side of the plane ofthe traveling web 12 in opposed relation to shoe plate 52 for supportingthe traveling web 12. The web supporting member 70 additionally includesa projection 72 disposed on the first direction side of the constantline and extending parallel with the edge feeler 53 of the sensing headmeans 50 in substantial alignment with the desired constant line oftravel of the longitudinal side of the thickened portion 13.

The projection 72 extends outwardly from the planar supporting surface71 toward the plane of the traveling web 12 in cooperating relationshipwith projection or edge feeler 53 a distance beyond the thickenedportion 13 of the traveling web 12 but less than the thinned portion 14.Thus, it can be seen that upon deviation of the longitudinal side edgeof the thickened portion 13 in the first direction, the edge feeler 53will be engaged by the longitudinal side edge of the thickened portion13 and be moved perpendicularly away from the plane of the traveling web12 a distance substantially equal to the difference in thickness betweenthe thickened portion 13 and the thinned portion 14 of the traveling web12.

Switch means, generally indicated at 80, is operatively associated withthe sensing head means 50. The switch means has an open position andclosed position and is preferably of the normally open type and includesan actuating plunger 81 which is adapted to be actuated upon sensinghead, means 50 sensing a deviation of the one longitudinal side edge ofthe thickened portion 13 in the first direction from the desiredconstant line of travel. More particularly, the switch means 80 includesa switch housing 82 which is supported by brace 83 from support bracket51 outwardly of the plane of the traveling web 12 beyond the sensinghead means 50 with the actuating plunger 81 extending therefrom towardthe sensing head means 50 in the path of movement thereof. An actuatingleaf 84 is pivotally connected as at 85 to the upper end of the switchhousing 82 and extends downwardly from the pivot point 85 and rests onthe free end of actuating plunger 81. The bolt 65 carried by link 60 ofthe sensing head means 50 is adjusted such that upon deviation of theone longitudinal side edge of the thickened portion 13 in the firstdirection from the constant line of travel, sensing head 50 will bemoved under the influence of the one longitudinal side edge to cause theend of bolt 65 to engage actuating leaf 84 and actuate plunger 81 toclose normally open switch means 80.

Guide means is 'provided which is responsive to the switch means 80 forconstantly shifting the traveling web 12 laterally of and in the planeof the traveling web 12 to compensate for any deviations of the onelongitudinal side edge of the thickened portion 13 in either directionfrom the desired substantially constant line of travel. The guide means,as discussed above, includes the pair of cooperating guide nip rolls 20and 21 and reciprocating means operatively associated therewith which isresponsive to switch means 80 for laterally shifting the guide nip rollsand 21 and the traveling web 12 passing therebetween a correspondingamount to maintain the one longitudinal side edge of the thickenedportion 13 along the substantially constant line of travel.

The pair of cooperating guide nip rolls 20 and 21 are mounted forlateral movement parallel to the plane of the traveling web 12 throughsuitable connections. More particularly, both of rolls 20 and 21 arejournaled at opposite ends in plates 91, only one of which is shown. Theplates 91 are mounted by suitable bearings in trackways, not shown, inplate supports 92 for sliding movement laterally thereof in a directionparallel to the plane of the traveling web 12. Plate supports 92 arecarried by vertical support members 30 through links 93, only one ofwhich is shown, with the plate supports 92 being preferably disposedwith the trackways, not shown, converging downwardly so that when therolls 20 and 21 are laterally moved they will move in an arcuate path tofacilitate a corresponding lateral movement of the traveling web 12 andprevent slippage thereof between rolls 21 and 22.

The reciprocating means, FIG. 2, comprises a double-acting,fluid-operated piston and cylinder assembly, generally indicated at 95,which includes a reciprocating piston 96 and a double-actingfluid-operated cylinder 97 mounted stationary by suitable supportstructure (not shown) adjacent to and in alignment with guide nip rolls20 and 21 with the reciprocating piston 96 having the free end thereofsuitably connected to one of the plates 91, FIG. 2, for laterallyshifting guide nip rolls 20 and 21 and the traveling web 12 laterally ofand in the plane of the traveling web 12. The out or forward stroke ofpiston 96 laterally shifts the traveling web 12 in the first directionand the in or return stroke of piston 96 laterally shifts the travelingweb 12 in the opposite direction.

The actuation of the double-acting, fluid-operated piston and cylinderassembly 95 is controlled by fluid control means which is responsive toswitch means 80. More particularly, the fluid control means comprises asolenoid actuated control valve, generally indicated at 100, whichincludes a valve 101 and solenoid 102 for control thereof. Asillustrated, FIG. 2, solenoid 102 is connected to a power circuit inseries with switch means 80 so that when switch means 80 is open thecore 101a of valve 101 and stem 102a of solenoid 102 are spring biasedto the right by spring 103 such that the valve 101 supplies fluid underpressure from pressure source 105 through valve 101 and conduit 106 tothe double-acting, fluidoperated cylinder 97 for driving the pistonoutwardly thereof to laterally shift the traveling web 12 in the firstdirection. When the switch means 80 is closed by the one longitudinalside edge of the thickened portion 13 deviating in the first directionfrom the constant line of travel, the circuit to the solenoid iscompleted and the stem 102a thereof will be shifted to the left, FIG. 2,to override biasing spring 103 so that fluid under pressure will besupplied from pressure source 105 through valve 101 and conduit 107 tothe double-acting, fluid-operated cylinder 97 to drive the piston 96inwardly thereof to laterally shift the traveling web 12 in a directionopposite to that of the first direction. Thus, it will be apparent thatthe traveling web 12 is constantly being shifted laterally of and in theplane of the traveling web 12 to maintain the one longitudinal side edgeof the thickened portion 13 advancing substantially along the constantline of travel.

For severing or removing the fringe or thinned portion 14 from thetraveling web 12, severing means, generally indicated at 110, aredisposed in substantial alignment with the one longitudinal side edge ofthe thickened portion 13 of the traveling web 12 after the web passesthrough the pair of cooperating guide nip rolls 20 and 21 for severingthe fringe or thinned portion 14 therefrom. The severing means 110 maycomprise a pair of cooperating rotary cutters 111 and 112 which aredriven by interconnecting gears 113 and 114 with one of the gears 113being driven by a pulley 115 and belt 116 disposed therearound andaround a pulley 117 which is mounted on the drive shaft of a motor 120.The cooperating rotary cutters 11 1 and 112 are aligned with theconstant line and accordingly,

cut or trim the thinned portion 14 from the elongate traveling web 12closely adjacent the one longitudinal edge of the thickened portion 13.

Following the cutting or trimming of the thinned portion 14 from theelongate traveling web 12, the web 12 passes to stitching means,generally indicated at 130, which is disposed in alignment with the onelongitudinal side edge of the thickened portion 14 of elongate travelingweb 12 for binding the cut edge as by hemstitching. The stitching means130 comprises a conventional sewing machine having a pulley 131operatively associated therewith about which a drivebelt 132 is disposedand which additionally passes around a pulley 133 mounted on the driveshaft of motor which also drives the cooperating rotary cutters 111 and112.

Thus, it can be seen that as the elongate traveling web 12 passes alongthe substantially predetermined longitudinal path of travel betweensupply roll 15 and take up roll 26, the one longitudinal side edge ofthe thickened portion 13 follows a substantially constant line oftravel. With the pair of cooperating rotary cutters 111 and 112 andstitching means aligned with the one longitudinal side edge of thethickened portion 13, the thinned portion 14 or any part thereof will betrimmed. from the thickened portion 13 and the cut edge stitched by thestitching means 130.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferredembodiment of the invention, and although specific terms are employed,they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not forpurposes of limitation:

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for aligning one longitudinal side edge of a thickenedportion of a traveling web having both thickened and thinned portionsalong a substantially constant line of travel, said apparatus comprisingthe combination of,

sensing head means disposed adjacent the one longitudinal side edge ofthe thickened portion of the traveling web for sensing a deviation inthe line of travel of the one longitudinal side edge in a firstdirection laterally of and in the plane of the traveling web from theconstant line of travel, said sensing head means comprising an elongateplanar shoe plate mounted closely adjacent one side of the thickenedportion of the traveling web with the longitudinal axis thereof parallelwith the plane of the traveling web for movement substantiallyperpendicular to the plane of the traveling web for engaging and ridingon the thickened portion thereof, and an edge feeler carried by saidshoe plate for engaging the one longitudinal side edge of the thickenedportion of the traveling web upon deviation thereof in said firstdirection from the constant line or travel and for moving along withsaid shoe plate perpendicularly away from the traveling web under theinfluence of the thickened portion,

switch means operatively associated with said sensing head means foractuation thereby and having an open position and a closed position,said switch means being in one of said positions when said sensing headmeans senses a deviation of the side edge in said first direction andbeing in said other position at all other times, and

guide means responsive to said means when in said one position forlaterally shifting the traveling web to compensate for the deviationfrom the constant line of travel and responsive to said switch meanswhen in said other position for laterally shifting the traveling web inan opposite direction, whereby said guide means is constantly moving ineither of the opposite directions to continually compensate fordeviations of the one longitudinal side edge of the thickened portion ineither direction from the desired substantially constant line of travel.

2. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said edge feelercomprises an elongate projection on said shoe plate extendinglongitudinally thereof and extending inwardly toward the plane of thetraveling web at least beyond the thickened portion but no further thanthe thinned portion.

3. An apparatus, set forth in claim 2, including a web supporting memberdisposed on the other side of the traveling web in opposed relation withsaid shoe plate and in supporting relation to the thickened portion ofthe traveling web for preventing deflection of the traveling web fromits plane of movement by said planar shoe plate.

4. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 3, wherein said web supportingmember includes an elongate projection extending inwardly therefrom inopposed cooperating relation with said edge feeler so that said edgefeeler and shoe plate will be moved perpendicularly away from the planeof the traveling web a distance substantially equal to the difference inthickness of the thickened and thinned portions of the traveling webupon deviation of the one longitudinal side edge of the thickenedportion from the constant line of travel in said first direction.

5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said switch means is ofthe normally open type and is disposed outwardly of the sensing headfrom the plane of the traveling web and includes an actuating plungerextending therefrom toward the sensing head in the path of movement ofsaid sensing head away from the plane of the traveling web and foractuation by said sensing head upon said sensing head sensing adeviation of the one longitudinal side edge of the thickened portion insaid first direction from the constant line of travel.

6. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said guide meanscomprises a pair of cooperating guide nip rolls through which the web isadvanced, and

reciprocating means operatively associated with said pair of nip rollsand responsive to said switch means for laterally shifting said niprolls parallel to the plane of the traveling web to maintain the onelongitudinal side edge of the thickened portion advancing along thesubstantially constant line of travel.

7. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 6, wherein said reciprocatingmeans comprises a double-acting, fluid-operated piston and cylinderassembly operatively connected to said nip rolls, and

fluid control means responsive to said switch means for actuating saidpiston and cylinder assembly for laterally shifting said nip rolls.

8. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, including web severing meansspaced from said sensing head and positioned in substantial alignmentwith the substantially constant line of travel for severing the webalong the one longitudinal side edge of the thickened portion after thetraveling web passes said sensing head.

9. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 8, wherein said severing meanscomprises a pair of cooperating rotary cutters, and wherein saidapparatus further includes stitching means spaced from said cooperatingrotary cutters in substantial alignment with the constant line of travelfor stitching the one longitudinal side edge of the thickened portion ofthe traveling web after the traveling web passes said cooperating rotarycutters.

10. An apparatus for aligning one longitudinal side edge of a thickenedportion of a traveling web having both thickened and thinned portionsalong a substantially constant line of travel, said apparatus comprisingthe combination of,

a sensing head means disposed adjacent the one longitudinal side edge ofthe thickened portion of the traveling web for sensing a deviation inthe line of travel of tine one longitudinal side edge of the thickenedportion in a first direction laterally of and in the plane of thetraveling web from the constant line of travel, said sensing head meanscomprising an elongate planar shoe plate mounted closely adjacent oneside of the thickened portion of the advancing web with the longitudinalaxis thereof parallel with the plane of the traveling web for movementsubstantially perpendicular to the plane of the traveling web for engaing and riding on the thickened ortion thereof, and an e ge feelercarried by said shoe p ate for engaging the one longitudinal side edgeof the thickened portion of the traveling web upon deviation thereof insaid first direction from the constant line of travel for moving alongwith said shoe plate perpendicularly way from the traveling web underthe influence of the one longitudinal side edge of the thickenedportion,

a web supporting member disposed on the other side of the traveling webin opposed relation with said shoe plate and in supporting relation tothe thickened portion of the traveling web for preventing deflection ofthe traveling web from its planar movement by said planar shoe plate,

switch means operatively associated with said sensing head means foractuation thereby and having an open position and a closed position,said switch means being in one of said positions when said sensing headmeans senses a deviation of the one longitudinal side edge in said firstdirection and being in said other position at all other times, and

guide means responsive to said switch means when in said one positionfor laterally shifting the traveling web to compensate for the deviationfrom the constant line of travel and responsive to said switch meanswhen in said other position for laterally shifting the traveling web inan opposite direction whereby said guide means is constantly moving ineither of the opposite directions to continually compensate fordeviations of the one longitudinal side edge of the thickened portion ineither direction from the desired substantially constant line of travel.

11. An apparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein said guide meanscomprises a pair of cooperating guide nip rolls between which the web isadvanced, and

reciprocating means operatively associated with said pair of nip rollsand responsive to said switch means for laterally shifting said niprolls parallel to the plane of the traveling web to maintain the onelongitudinal side edge of the thickened portion advancing along thesubstantially constant line of travel.

12. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 11, further includin websevering means spaced from said sensing head and positioned insubstantial alignment with the substantially constant line of travel forsevering the web along the one longitudinal side edge of the thickenedportion after the traveling web passes said sensing head means, and

stitching means spaced from said web severing means in alignment withthe constant line of travel for stitching the one longitudinal side edgeof the thickened portion of the traveling web after traveling web passessaid web severing means.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3, 10,493 Dated October 5, 1971 I Charles E. Brocklehurst It is certified thaterror appears in the above-identified patent and that said LettersPatent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 1, line 9, delete "which" and insert therefor -one-;

line 73, delete "sending" and insert -sensing--; Column 2, line 72,after "along", insert -a; Column 3,

line 32, "raveling" should be --traveling-; line 48, "include" should be--includes; line 65, "an" should be and-; Column 4, line 9, after"sections", delete -that this sections";

line 12, after "these, insert -thin--; line 29, after "side", insertedge; Column 6, line 51, "or" should be -of-;

line 61, after first instance of said", insert -switch--; Column 7, line1, "s' should be as; Column 8, line 1, "tine" should be -the--;

line 60, after the Word "after", insert --the-.

Signed and sealed this l th day of April 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissionerof Patents ORM F'O-1050 (10-69) USCOMM-DC BO376-P69 Ki U 5 GOVERNMENTPRINTING OFFICE: I959 0-366-33!

1. An apparatus for aligning one longitudinal side edge of a thickenedportion of a traveling web having both thickened and thinned portionsalong a substantially constant line of travel, said apparatus comprisingthe combination of, sensing head means disposed adjacent the onelongitudinal side edge of the thickened portion of the traveling web forsensing a deviation in the line of travel of the one longitudinal sideedge in a first direction laterally of and in the plane of the travelingweb from the constant line of travel, said sensing head means comprisingan elongate planar shoe plate mounted closely adjacent one side of thethickened portion of the traveling web with the longitudinal axisthereof parallel with the plane of the traveling web for movementsubstantially perpendicular to the plane of the traveling web forengaging and riding on the thickened portion thereof, and an edge feelercarried by said shoe plate for engaging the one longitudinal side edgeof the thickened portion of the traveling web upon deviation thereof insaid first direction from the constant line or travel and for movingalong with said shoe plate perpendicularly away from the traveling webunder the influence of the thickened portion, switch means operativelyassociated with said sensing head means for actuation thereby and havingan open position and a closed position, said switch means being in oneof said positions when said sensing head means senses a deviation of theside edge in said first direction and being in said other position atall other times, and guide means responsive to said means when in saidone position for laterally shifting the traveling web to compensate forthe deviation from the constant line of travel and responsive to saidswitch means when in said other position for laterally shifting thetraveling web in an opposite direction, whereby said guide means isconstantly moving in either of the opposite directions to continuallycompensate for deviations of the one longitudinal side edge of thethickened portion in either direction from the desired substantiallyconstant line of travel.
 2. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 1,wherein said edge feeler comprises an elongate projection on said shoeplate extending longitudinally thereof and extending inwardly toward theplane of the traveling web at least beyond the thickened portion but nofurther than the thinned portion.
 3. An apparatus, s set forth in claim2, including a web supporting member disposed on the other side of thetraveling web in opposed relation with said shoe plate and in supportingrelation to the thickened portion of the traveling web for preventingdeflection of the traveling web from its plane of movement by saidplanar shoe plate.
 4. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 3, whereinsaid web supporting member includes an elongate projection extendinginwardly therefrom in opposed cooperating relation with said edge feelerso that said edge feeler and shoe plate will be moved perpendicularlyaway from the plane of the traveling web a distance substantially equalto the difference in thickness of the thickened and thinned portions ofthe traveling web upon deviation of the one longitudinal side edge ofthe thickened portion from the constant line of travel in said firstdirection.
 5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said switchmeans is of the normally open type and is disposed outwardly of thesensing head from the plane of the traveling web and includes anactuating plunger extending therefrom toward the sensing head in thepath of movement of said sensing head away from the plane of thEtraveling web and for actuation by said sensing head upon said sensinghead sensing a deviation of the one longitudinal side edge of thethickened portion in said first direction from the constant line oftravel.
 6. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said guidemeans comprises a pair of cooperating guide nip rolls through which theweb is advanced, and reciprocating means operatively associated withsaid pair of nip rolls and responsive to said switch means for laterallyshifting said nip rolls parallel to the plane of the traveling web tomaintain the one longitudinal side edge of the thickened portionadvancing along the substantially constant line of travel.
 7. Anapparatus, as set forth in claim 6, wherein said reciprocating meanscomprises a double-acting, fluid-operated piston and cylinder assemblyoperatively connected to said nip rolls, and fluid control meansresponsive to said switch means for actuating said piston and cylinderassembly for laterally shifting said nip rolls.
 8. An apparatus, as setforth in claim 1, including web severing means spaced from said sensinghead and positioned in substantial alignment with the substantiallyconstant line of travel for severing the web along the one longitudinalside edge of the thickened portion after the traveling web passes saidsensing head.
 9. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 8, wherein saidsevering means comprises a pair of cooperating rotary cutters, andwherein said apparatus further includes stitching means spaced from saidcooperating rotary cutters in substantial alignment with the constantline of travel for stitching the one longitudinal side edge of thethickened portion of the traveling web after the traveling web passessaid cooperating rotary cutters.
 10. An apparatus for aligning onelongitudinal side edge of a thickened portion of a traveling web havingboth thickened and thinned portions along a substantially constant lineof travel, said apparatus comprising the combination of, a sensing headmeans disposed adjacent the one longitudinal side edge of the thickenedportion of the traveling web for sensing a deviation in the line oftravel of tine one longitudinal side edge of the thickened portion in afirst direction laterally of and in the plane of the traveling web fromthe constant line of travel, said sensing head means comprising anelongate planar shoe plate mounted closely adjacent one side of thethickened portion of the advancing web with the longitudinal axisthereof parallel with the plane of the traveling web for movementsubstantially perpendicular to the plane of the traveling web forengaging and riding on the thickened portion thereof, and an edge feelercarried by said shoe plate for engaging the one longitudinal side edgeof the thickened portion of the traveling web upon deviation thereof insaid first direction from the constant line of travel for moving alongwith said shoe plate perpendicularly way from the traveling web underthe influence of the one longitudinal side edge of the thickenedportion, a web supporting member disposed on the other side of thetraveling web in opposed relation with said shoe plate and in supportingrelation to the thickened portion of the traveling web for preventingdeflection of the traveling web from its planar movement by said planarshoe plate, switch means operatively associated with said sensing headmeans for actuation thereby and having an open position and a closedposition, said switch means being in one of said positions when saidsensing head means senses a deviation of the one longitudinal side edgein said first direction and being in said other position at all othertimes, and guide means responsive to said switch means when in said oneposition for laterally shifting the traveling web to compensate for thedeviation from the constant line of travel and responsive to said switchmeans when in said other position for laterally shifting the travelingweb in an opposite direction whereby said guide means is constantlymoving in either of the opposite directions to continually compensatefor deviations of the one longitudinal side edge of the thickenedportion in either direction from the desired substantially constant lineof travel.
 11. An apparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein said guidemeans comprises a pair of cooperating guide nip rolls between which theweb is advanced, and reciprocating means operatively associated withsaid pair of nip rolls and responsive to said switch means for laterallyshifting said nip rolls parallel to the plane of the traveling web tomaintain the one longitudinal side edge of the thickened portionadvancing along the substantially constant line of travel.
 12. Anapparatus, as set forth in claim 11, further including web severingmeans spaced from said sensing head and positioned in substantialalignment with the substantially constant line of travel for severingthe web along the one longitudinal side edge of the thickened portionafter the traveling web passes said sensing head means, and stitchingmeans spaced from said web severing means in alignment with the constantline of travel for stitching the one longitudinal side edge of thethickened portion of the traveling web after traveling web passes saidweb severing means.